Age and available coral species modulate transition probability from herbivory to corallivory in juvenile Acanthaster cf. solaris (Crown-of-Thorns seastar)

This dataset was collected in two separate experiments in 2019/20 and 2020/21, looking at the behaviour of juvenile Acanthaster cf. solaris as they transition from their initial herbivorous diet feeding on crustose coralline algae (CCA) to feeding on coral. We aimed to fill key knowledge gaps by identifying the age and size COTS would transition, as well as identifying 50% and 100% probabilities of transition for the cohorts. We also looked at the effect available coral species have on the probability of COTS transitioning, comparing preferred foods Acropora millepora and A. tenuis to Stylophora pistillata. COTS were isolated in flow-through tanks in the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator, and provided with CCA and the relevant coral species. In Experiment 1, one COTS was added per tank with CCA and A. tenuis, and was monitored weekly for a transition to a coral diet. In Experiment 2, 10 COTS were added per tank, with CCA and either A. millepora, A. tenuis or S. pistillata, with four replicate tanks per coral treatment. When COTS were observed feeding on corals, they were removed, photographed and their size and age recorded. Experiment 1 was run until all 24 COTS used in the experiment had transitioned, whilst Experiment 2 was run until >50% of the cohort in the A. tenuis treatment (the COTS preferred food) had transitioned.Parameters common to both:Age – Age of Acanthaster cf. solaris juveniles in days post settlementArms – Number of arms on individual Acanthaster cf. solarisDiameter – Average diameter of Acanthaster cf. solaris individuals measured in millimetres from the tips of the armsCoral – The coral species the Acanthaster cf. solaris was found feeding onExp 1Tank Row – the row the COTS tank was inTank Column – the column the COTS tank was inExp 2Tank Rep – The replicate number of the tank for each coral species (n = 4 for each species)Tank No – The individual tank ID numberExp 2 – binomial feedingCCA/Coral – 1 indicates this was the diet of the COTS specimen at the end of the experiment (day 175), 0 indicates it was not

本数据集采集自2019/20与2020/21年度的两组独立实验，旨在探究幼体长棘海星（Acanthaster cf. solaris）从以结壳珊瑚藻（crustose coralline algae, CCA）为食的初始植食性阶段，向珊瑚食性阶段转变的行为规律。
我们旨在填补该领域的关键认知空白，明确长棘海星完成食性转变的年龄与体型阈值，并确定其种群分别达到50%、100%食性转变的概率。
本研究同时评估了可供选择的珊瑚物种对长棘海星食性转变概率的影响，选取其偏好食物微孔鹿角珊瑚（Acropora millepora）、易变鹿角珊瑚（A. tenuis）与杯形珊瑚（Stylophora pistillata）开展对照实验。
实验对象均饲养于澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science）国家海洋模拟设施的流水养殖槽中，投喂结壳珊瑚藻与对应供试珊瑚物种。

实验1中，每个养殖槽投放1只长棘海星，投喂结壳珊瑚藻与易变鹿角珊瑚，每周监测其是否发生食性转变。
实验2中，每个养殖槽投放10只长棘海星，投喂结壳珊瑚藻与微孔鹿角珊瑚、易变鹿角珊瑚或杯形珊瑚三者之一，每种珊瑚处理组设置4个重复养殖槽。
当观测到长棘海星取食珊瑚时，将其移出养殖槽，进行拍摄记录，并测量其体型与年龄。
实验1持续至全部24只参与实验的长棘海星均完成食性转变；实验2则持续至易变鹿角珊瑚处理组（长棘海星的偏好食物）中超过50%的种群个体完成食性转变。

## 两组实验共通参数
- 年龄（Age）：幼体长棘海星（Acanthaster cf. solaris）的沉降后天数，单位为天
- 腕足数（Arms）：单只长棘海星的腕足数量
- 直径（Diameter）：长棘海星个体的腕尖平均直径，单位为毫米
- 珊瑚种类（Coral）：观测到长棘海星取食的珊瑚物种

## 实验1专属参数
- 养殖槽排号（Tank Row）：长棘海星养殖槽所在的排数
- 养殖槽列号（Tank Column）：长棘海星养殖槽所在的列数

## 实验2专属参数
- 养殖槽重复编号（Tank Rep）：对应珊瑚物种的养殖槽重复序号（每个物种设置4个重复）
- 养殖槽编号（Tank No）：单个养殖槽的唯一标识编号
- 二项式取食状态（Exp 2 – binomial feeding）：CCA/珊瑚取食状态（CCA/Coral）：取值为1时，表示该长棘海星样本在实验结束（第175天）时以珊瑚为食；取值为0时，则表示其未转换为珊瑚食性。